Department for Transport

London Underground: Carbon Emissions

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Transport for London about steps it may take to make the London Underground network carbon neutral.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Government is committed to our Net Zero target. As part of our forthcoming Transport Decarbonisation Plan we will be working with industry and local communities around the country to develop plans to achieve this. Those conversations will of course include the Mayor of London and Transport for London.

Aviation: Taxis

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the regulatory requirements needed for the introduction of so-called "flying taxis".

baroness vere of norbiton: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is the independent body responsible for regulating aviation in the UK. The CAA established an Innovation Hub this year, which is engaging with innovative aviation companies, including those seeking to gain permission to operate Electric ‘Air taxis’ in the UK. In August, the Prime Minister announced a £300 million joint investment, from the Government and industry, through the Future Flight Challenge, which will support the development of innovative aviation systems and the infrastructure and regulations needed to support them.

Ferries: Contracts

baroness altmann: To ask Her Majesty's Government how muchthey havespent on ferry contracts that were entered into in anticipation of a possible no-deal Brexitin the past 12 months.

baroness vere of norbiton: As part of preparations for a potential No Deal Brexit in March, the Government procured additional freight capacity to support the continued flow of Category 1 goods. When Article 50 was extended, £51.4m was paid to terminate contracts. The Government ran a new procurement exercise to secure freight capacity as part of preparations for Brexit on 31 October, entering into contracts for the 6 months from this date. With the extension to Article 50, we have changed our requirements with operators to make sure that capacity remains available from 31 January if required. This scaling down of capacity will cost approximately £8m.

Electric Vehicles

lord bourne of aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to promote the (1) production, and (2) use, of electric cars in the UK.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Government is supporting the automotive industry in the switch to ultra-low emission vehicles. The Office for Low Emission Vehicles has awarded over £300m in grants, via Innovate UK, into ultra-low emission technologies to support vehicle manufacturers, technology companies and academia in delivering a major programme of R&D into cleaner vehicle technologies. The Government and industry have also committed around £1bn over 10 years to 2023 through the Advanced Propulsion Centre, to research, develop and commercialise the next generation of low carbon technologies, and to keep the UK at the cutting edge of low carbon automotive innovations. The £274m Faraday Battery Challenge will ensure the UK builds on its strengths and leads the world in the design, development and manufacture of electric batteries. The £80m Driving the Electric Revolution Challenge provides support for innovation in electric motor technology. The Government has recently also announced up to £1bn of additional funding to develop UK supply chains for the large-scale production of electric vehicles, and for further EV research and development. Alongside these supply-side measures, we are investing nearly £1.5bn‎ between April 2015 and March 2021, via grants available for plug in cars, vans, lorries, buses, taxis and motorcycles, and schemes to support chargepoint infrastructure at homes, workplaces and on residential streets. These subsidies are designed to support the early market and achieve a competitive, self-sustaining market.

Railways: Tree Felling

lord krebs: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 28 October (HL39), what assessment they have madeof the impact of clearance of trackside vegetation by Network Rail on the UK’s carbon budget.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Government expects Network Rail to achieve no net loss in biodiversity by 2024, and net gain by 2040 as the primary environmental objective of its lineside vegetation management. Network Rail does not currently calculate the carbon impact of vegetation clearance. As a responsible landowner Network Rail must effectively manage the national environment on its estate, whilst ensuring the safety and performance of the railway, The Government believes that the railway should make a significant contribution to achieving our objective of net zero greenhouse gas emissions across the economy by 2050.

Railways: Tree Felling

lord krebs: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 28 October (HL39), whether Network Rail carries out any habitat and carbon offsetting to compensate for the removal of trackside vegetation.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Government expects that, where it is not safe or practical to mitigate habitat loss on its lineside estate, Network Rail makes use of opportunities to improve biodiversity elsewhere on its estate or more widely. Network Rail does not currently carry out carbon offsetting against the removal of trackside vegetation. The Government believes that, system-wide, the railway should make a significant contribution to achieving our objective of net zero greenhouse gas emissions across the economy by 2050. Following the publication of the Varley Review on 28 November 2018, the Government published a policy statement: Enhancing Biodiversity and Wildlife on the Lineside. This sets an ambitious target for Network Rail to achieve no net loss in biodiversity on its existing lineside estate by 2024, and to achieve biodiversity net gain on each route by 2040. The policy statement sets out the Department’s expectation that Network Rail develop a Biodiversity Action Plan.

Thomas Cook: Insolvency

baroness doocey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to review their repatriation measures for non-ATOL protected passengers, following the collapse of Thomas Cook.

baroness vere of norbiton: On 14 October 2019, the Queen’s Speech set out the Government’s intention to legislate to enhance the Civil Aviation Authority’s oversight of airlines, and to create a new airline insolvency framework to provide a means to keep the fleet flying and to get passengers home quickly and efficiently in the event of any future insolvencies.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Pakistan: Minority Groups

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide training for Pakistani minority groups and non-governmental organisations on how to (1) organise, campaign and lobby for their rights, and (2) respond to the shrinking of civil society space in Pakistan; and how the persecution of Ahmadi and Christian minorities was raised during the visit to Pakistan by HRH the Duke of Cambridge.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The British Government provides training, workshops and seminars on Freedom of Religion or Belief in Pakistan, including to representatives of minority groups. These aim to increase awareness of rights and constitutional safeguards, and to strengthen connections between minority communities and local media. The British Government continues to support civil society and non-governmental organisations lobbying the Government of Pakistan to honour its international commitments. Department for International Development will work with local civil society organisations to promote respect, tolerance and inclusion of minorities and marginalised groups through its AAWAZ II programme.While in Pakistan, Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge discussed interfaith harmony with faith leaders from across Pakistan’s various religious communities, including Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Shia and Sunni. Discussions focused on the challenges and opportunities present in promoting interfaith relations in Pakistan, as well as how faith representatives can work together to build acceptance and tolerance in Pakistani society. They also spent time with members of the Kalash community in the Bumburet Valley of Chitral.

Syria: Military Intervention

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that 13-year old Mohammed Hamid Mohammed, admitted to Tal Tamir Hospital following the bombing of Ras-al Ain by Turkey, is a victim of white phosphorus; and whether they intend to refer any such use of white phosphorus to the International Criminal Court to seek justice for the reported violations of the Geneva Convention and the Chemical Weapons Convention.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The British Government is deeply concerned by all civilian casualties in north east Syria. The allegations that white phosphorous has been used against civilians are extremely worrying and it is important that the full facts are established before any other action is considered. The UN Commission of Inquiry has responsibility for investigating alleged violations of international law in Syria. White phosphorus is not classed as a chemical weapon or covered by the Chemical Weapons Convention. But we have repeatedly called on all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law which prohibits attacks against civilians irrespective of the weapon used.

Jerusalem: Water Supply

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they intend to have with the government of Israelabout its reasons for the reported denial ofaccess to the Ein Hanya natural spring near Al-Walaja, within the municipal boundary of Jerusalem.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We regularly make clear our concerns to the Israeli authorities about the difficulties of access to Jerusalem for Palestinians from the West Bank. We are concerned by unilateral Israeli measures in East Jerusalem, including around the Palestinian village of Al-Walaja which threaten to restrict Palestinian access to their lands. We are also concerned by ongoing demolitions in the village. We continue to make clear to the Israeli authorities our serious concern at the overall increase in demolitions of Palestinian properties across the West Bank.

Syria: Military Intervention

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to call on the government of Turkey to compensate the (1) next of kin of civilians killed or seriously wounded, and(2)local authorities for damage to civil infrastructure, in particular water facilitiesand grain storage, as a result of the recent incursion by Turkey into Syria.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We continue to raise concerns with Turkey about the impact of its intervention in north-east Syria on civilians and civil infrastructure. Decisions on whether to award compensation for damages are a matter for the courts in the relevant jurisdiction.

Syria: Military Intervention

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they intend to make to the government ofTurkey about ensuring that its auxiliary militias comply fully with current, and any future, ceasefires in Syria.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Prime Minister spoke to President Erdogan on 12 and 20 October to express our opposition to the Turkish military operation and urge an end to the action. Dr Murrison met the Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister, Sedat Önal, on 26 October and urged restraint on the part of Turkish forces and their proxies. We therefore welcome the fact that the ceasefire is holding and that Turkey has confirmed there are no plans for a further offensive, involving its military forces and Turkish-backed groups. The Foreign Secretary has also conveyed UK concern to his Turkish counterpart.

Syria: Military Intervention

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what evidence they have received about reports of torture, murder, kidnapping, ransoming of civilians, and sexual enslavement of women, by the Turkish forces and allied militias in the Afrin Canton of Syria; and what is their response to any such evidence.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have received reports from the UN Commission of Inquiry and credible international NGOs on possible violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. In its September report, the UN Commission of Inquiry for Syria found that there were reasonable grounds to believe that members of armed groups in Afrin continued to commit the war crimes of hostage-taking, cruel treatment, torture and pillage. We continue to raise concerns with Turkey, and to call for credible investigations into alleged violations of international humanitarian law in areas under the control of armed groups supported by Turkey.

Free Syrian Police and White Helmets: Finance

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of the Netherlands about the reasons why that government cancelled its funding for the White Helmets and the Free Syria Police in 2018; and whether they will publish the outcomes of any such discussions.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We coordinate closely with likeminded partners, particularly on co-funded programmes. Decisions regarding the Netherlands' programme funding are a matter for the Government of the Netherlands.

Syria: Military Intervention

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they havemade ofthe reported use of white phosphorus against the Kurds by the government of Turkey.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We are aware of very worrying allegations that white phosphorous has been used against civilians in Syria. It is important that the full facts are established. The UN Commission of Inquiry has responsibility for investigating alleged violations of international law in Syria. We have repeatedly called on all parties to uphold their obligations under International Humanitarian Law which prohibits attacks against civilians irrespective of the weapon used.

Syria: Military Intervention

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration theyhave givento consulting other NATO members about expelling Turkey for reportedly committing war crimes.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Turkey is and will remain an important NATO member and ally. We are in close consultation with international partners and multilateral bodies, including NATO, on the situation in north-east Syria. Turkey briefed NATO allies on its operation on 16 October and the Defence Secretary discussed the situation in north-east Syria with other NATO Defence Ministers last week. We have made clear to Turkey our serious concerns about alleged violations of international humanitarian law committed during the Turkish military operation in north-east Syria.

Russia: Diplomatic Relations

viscount waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government under what conditions they would anticipate a rapprochement of diplomatic relations with the government of Russia.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We continue to hope that we will one day once again enjoy a strong partnership with the Russian government and we remain open to a different relationship in future – one where Russia desists from attacks that undermine international treaties and international security, and its actions that undermine the territorial integrity of its neighbours - and instead acts together with us to fulfil the common responsibilities we share as permanent members of the UN Security Council. As long as Russia persists in its efforts to undermine our interests and values, we will continue to deter and counter them.

North Korea: Human Rights

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of remarks made to the human rights committee of the General Assembly of the United Nations by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on 24 October that 11 million people, including 140,000 children in North Korea remain undernourishedand that30,000 of those people "face an increased risk of death".

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We are deeply concerned by the humanitarian situation in North Korea and reports that 11 million people remain undernourished. We are monitoring the food security situation accordingly. The UK contributes to the UN Central Emergency Fund (CERF), along with other bilateral donors. In October, CERF allocated $6 million to North Korea in response to damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Lingling. This allocation was made in order to provide urgent food security and nutrition interventions, and support increased access to water, sanitation and hygiene services in the most affected provinces.We urge the DPRK to put the needs of its people over its illegal WMD programmes, and provide aid agencies with adequate data and access in order to support the most vulnerable.

North Korea: Human Rights

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of remarks made by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea on 22 October that (1) North Korea "is violating its human rights obligations due to its failing economic and agricultural policies", and (2)discrimination leads to many people being deprived of rations in that country; andwhat estimate they have made of the amount of money that North Korea spends on agriculture and food production compared with its military programmes and nuclear capability.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The remarks made by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in North Korea are deeply troubling. Limited availability of official data from the North Korean government makes comprehensive analysis of their expenditure on agriculture and its weapons programmes difficult. However, outside observers estimate that the DPRK spends a disproportionately large amount of its GDP on its military and illegal weapons programmes. It is abundantly clear that years of failed economic policies by the DPRK government are to blame for the current humanitarian situation. We have made clear on many occasions our concern at the DPRK government’s appalling human rights record and its failure to allocate its resources to the needs of its people. We urge the North Korean government to put its people’s needs before the development of illegal weapons programmes.

North Korea: Human Rights

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of remarks made by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea on 22 October that (1) North Korea is placing severe and widespread restrictions on basic freedoms, including surveillance and close monitoring of civilians, and (2) many citizens permanently disappear to a kwanliso political prison camp with families never informed of the decisions or of the whereabouts of their relatives; whether the UK Ambassador to North Korea has raised those allegations with the government of the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea; and if so, what response they received.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have grave concerns about the human rights situation in North Korea. As the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in North Korea made clear on 22 October, citizens in North Korea are subject to arrest and imprisonment in horrifying conditions for attempts to exercise even basic, universally accepted, human rights, such as freedom of expression and belief. Our Ambassador in Pyongyang regularly raises human rights concerns with the DPRK authorities, including reports of severe restrictions on freedoms and conditions in prison camps. North Korea routinely challenges the evidence base for such allegations.We also raise our human rights concerns in international fora. At the UN General Assembly in October, we called on the North Korean Government to show the world that freedoms supposedly enshrined in its constitution are not a mirage, and at North Korea's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in May, we called on the authorities to end all surveillance and censorship of individuals and organisations. We have also urged North Korea to permit access for the Special Rapporteur and other UN human rights bodies. North Korea continues to reject allegations of human rights violations, and took note of our UPR recommendations but with no commitment to action.

Syria: Military Intervention

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the withdrawal of United States forces from north east Syria, whether the Coalition for the Defeat of ISIS’ mission now includes retaining control over the al-Omar oilfield and the prevention of access to that oilfield by Syrian Armed Forces.

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether theal-Omar oilfield in Syria will be controlled by military personnel associated with the Coalition for the Defeat of ISIS or the United States Armed Forces.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The purpose of the Global Coalition is to degrade and defeat Daesh. As part of this work, the Global Coalition has been engaged in a comprehensive campaign to disrupt and prevent Daesh from raising funds. US military decisions and troop movements are a matter for the US government.

Syria: Military Intervention

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many ISIS fighters in Syria have been (1) killed, and (2) captured, in (a) 2018, and (b) 2019, by the Coalition for the Defeat of ISIS.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The British Government does not hold this information.

Nobel Prize

lord crisp: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to support the nomination by the Republic of South Korea of the nurses Marianne Stoger and Margaritha Pissarek for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​As set out by the statutes of the Nobel Foundation, it would not be appropriate for the British Government to comment on the nominations submitted for the Nobel Peace Prize 2020 by the Government of the Republic of South Korea.

Qatar: Football

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they made as to whether thehumans rights of workers building the stadium for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar have been violated.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Qatar has made significant progress to improve the situation for its workers, including migrant workers since it won the right to host the World Cup. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) opened an office in Doha in 2018 to work with Qatar on improving workers’ rights. We welcome the steps Qatar has taken to date to improve the treatment of workers in Qatar including its most recent announcements on labour reform to abolish the Kafala system by early 2020. We continue to encourage Qatar on making further reforms recommended by the ILO and stand ready to support.

Hong Kong: Elections

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the disqualification of Joshua Wong from being able to stand for election in the District Council elections in Hong Kong; whether they are monitoringthose elections for irregularities;whether they intend to challenge any unjust disqualifications and irregularities; and if so, how.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are concerned by the rejection of Joshua Wong's nomination for next month's local elections. Standing for election is a fundamental right enshrined in Hong Kong's Basic Law and Bill of Rights. Now, more than ever, it is vital that Hong Kong's political processes and institutions help to build trust amongst the public. Hong Kong's success is built on its rights and freedoms, including open and inclusive debate. We will continue to make these points to the Hong Kong SAR government.Hong Kong district council elections will be an important opportunity for the citizens of Hong Kong to exercise their rights to make their voices heard. We will of course follow the conduct of the elections closely, and raise any concerns with the relevant authorities.

North Korea: Refugees

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of remarks made to the human rights committee of the General Assembly of the United Nations by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on 22 Octoberthat in the past six months he has received information from family members living in South Korea(1) that an increasing number of North Korean escapees are being detained in China, and (2) that those that are returned to North Korea are likely to be tortured or subjected to other human rights violations;when they last raised this with the government of China; what response they received; and what actions they have taken at United Nations fora to highlight theseissues.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We are extremely concerned about the repatriation of North Koreans by Chinese authorities and the conditions they may face on return to North Korea. When we hear of individuals facing repatriation, we seek to raise their cases directly with China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with our international partners. We did so most recently in May 2019. We will continue to monitor closely and will again emphasise to China that people fleeing North Korea should be treated as legitimate asylum claimants and should not be returned, as stipulated by the 1951 UN Refugee Convention.The British Government regularly raises its concerns over the human rights situation in North Korea in multilateral fora including the UN Security Council, General Assembly and Human Rights Council. At a briefing with the UN Special Rapporteur on 22 October, we discussed what more could be done to ensure legitimate North Korean asylum claimants are not forcibly repatriated when crossing international borders. We will continue to work with the Special Rapporteur and the international community to address these concerns.

Africa: Conflict Resolution

lord boateng: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of African-led efforts toend conflict in Africa, including the Silence the Guns 2020 initiative; and what steps they intend to take to support such efforts.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK welcomes the efforts of the African Union and its sub-regional organizations to prevent, mediate and settle conflicts in Africa. Helping deliver stability and security is a critical component of the UK’s strategic approach to Africa. It is vital that we retain a strong focus on action, translating the noble goal of silencing the guns into concrete initiatives that will make a tangible difference to the lives of ordinary Africans. The UK is working with our partners across Africa to support mediation, women’s participation in conflict prevention and resolution, and countering the proliferation of weapons, especially small arms and light weapons.

Africa: Conflict Resolution

lord boateng: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proposals they have to enhance cooperation between the UN, the EU, and international, regional, and sub-regional institutions, to advance support for peace in (1) the Sahel, (2) the African Great Lakes, and (3) the Horn of Africa.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is enhancing its diplomatic and development efforts across the Sahel to improve international coordination. For example, the UK is expanding its Embassies in Mali and Mauritania, establishing new Embassies in Niger and Chad and setting up a regional hub in Dakar, Senegal. We are seeking to ensure that the Sahel Alliance of donors and the new Partnership for Security and Stability in the Sahel encourage close partnership between donors and Sahel governments and regional organisations. We are also working to ensure that the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali (MINUSMA) works effectively with the Malian Government and other security operations in the region. The UK will deploy 250 military personnel to this mission next year.The UK also supports efforts to bring lasting peace and stability to the Great Lakes region. The UK actively supports the work of the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Great Lakes, who oversees the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework (PSCF). This aims to address the root causes of conflict in the Great Lakes region. The UK is a significant bilateral donor in support of peacebuilding efforts in the region and supporter of MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission in eastern DRC.In the Horn of Africa, the UK is the penholder for all discussions on Somalia in the United Nations Security Council. This includes drafting the mandates for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM); both of which place strong emphasis on the need for coordination between Somalia's international supporters. In Sudan, the UK has frequent engagement with the AU, EU and UN counterparts to provide coordinated political and technical assistance to support the programme of reform and change that the new government has initiated. In addition, with our UN Security Council partners, we are securing renewed mandates for the UN-AU peacekeeping mission in Darfur and the UN mission in Abyei. These will support developing peace processes led by the new government of Sudan. The UK also takes a lead role in South Sudan as a member of the Troika (with Norway and the US) to press for an end to the conflict, and implementation of the Peace Agreement signed on 12 September 2018. We released a statement on 21 October alongside Troika partners urging all sides to demonstrate their commitment to peace by increasing co-operation and working together to resolve outstanding issues (see attached document). We also engage frequently with regional countries, particularly members of IGAD (Inter-Governmental Authority on Development) who brokered the Agreement. The UK takes a prominent role with the UN, providing 300 troops to the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. We also play an active role at the UN in New York to ensure attention and support of the international community on ending the conflict that has killed nearly 400,000 since 2013.



South Sudan Troika Statement
(Word Document, 12.29 KB)

Africa: Peacekeeping Operations

lord boateng: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of funding for UN support to African Peace Support Operations.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The UK supports the principle of the African Union (AU) accessing UN assessed contributions for future AU-led peace support operations, subject to the conditions previously agreed by the UN Security Council

Syria: Armed Conflict

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have madeof the extent to which the agreed ceasefire in north-east Syria is being respected by all armed groups; and what proposals they have for making it (1) effective, and (2) permanent.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We welcome the fact that the ceasefire in north-east Syria appears to be broadly holding and that Turkey has confirmed it has no plans for a further offensive. Implementation of the ceasefire is for the parties directly involved but we have made clear our expectation that all parties abide by the agreed ceasefire and by their obligations under international humanitarian law. We been consistently clear with Turkey on our opposition to its military action in north-east Syria – the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and Minister for the Middle East and North Africa have each made this clear to their Turkish counterparts, most recently on 26 October.

Syria: British Nationals Abroad

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 29 October (HL109), how many repatriations of British citizens or residents now in Syria, in particular in the north-east, have so far been achieved through their case-by-case approach; and whether they are seeking the help of both non-governmental organisations and international organisations toensure the process supports those people affected effectively.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We do not routinely comment on individual cases. We can confirm that in the last 12 months there have been a small number of British children who have left Syria and returned to the UK via third countries. As a matter of general policy, we provide consular assistance to British Nationals not UK residents. The UK has no consular presence within Syria from which to provide assistance. Each case is considered on an individual basis. As the Foreign Secretary has said, the Government will work with a range of partners in Syria and at home to facilitate the return of unaccompanied or orphan children where feasible and subject to national security concerns. This includes both non-governmental organisations and international organisations.'

Burma: Rohingya

the lord bishop of st albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the Rohingya people’s civil and human rights are being upheld in Myanmar.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The recent UN Fact Finding Mission report is clear that the situation is dire for the 600,000 Rohingya who remain in Rakhine State. The British Government is clear that Rohingya in Myanmar continue to be at serious risk of human rights violations, including mass killings, sexual and gender-based violence and human trafficking. We are particularly concerned at restrictions on freedom of movement, religious belief and access to education. This situation has been exacerbated by the conflict between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military.We continue to push the Government of Myanmar to fully implement the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission, in order to improve conditions for all those who living in Rakhine State. Baroness Sugg raised this with senior government figures in Rakhine on her recent visit.

Burma: Ethnic Groups

the lord bishop of st albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of attacks against Chin people in Myanmar.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The UK is concerned by reports of attacks against the Chin people and missing Chin residents as a result of serious clashes between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military. This conflict has now displaced tens of thousands of people, with civilians caught in the middle. We call on both sides to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue.

Hong Kong: Politics and Government

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations the Prime Minister has made to the President of China about the situation in Hong Kong; and when any such representations were made.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The Prime Minister wrote to President Xi Jinping on 30 September. In his letter, he underlined the importance of upholding the Joint Declaration, under the 'One Country, Two Systems' framework. The leadership in China and Hong Kong is in no doubt about the strength of UK concern over the current situation, and our commitment to seeing the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Joint Declaration upheld.

Côte d'Ivoire: Politics and Government

lord sheikh: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to hold discussions with the government of the Ivory Coast about honouring presidential term limits.

lord sheikh: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the political situation in the Ivory Coast.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The British Government has a strong partnership with Cote d’Ivoire. Stability and inclusive economic growth are shared priorities, with a view to consolidating peace after a decade of crisis and uncertainty. We take every opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to peaceful, free and credible elections in 2020, in line with international law, and encourage all parties to work towards this goal. We have done so directly with government and opposition political parties in Cote d’Ivoire and at the 42nd Human Rights Council on 19 September in Geneva. The 2016 constitution of Cote d’Ivoire stipulates a two-term limit on Presidential mandates, which the incumbent will have reached by the 2020 elections. The elections are the responsibility of the Government of Cote d’Ivoire, all political parties and the Ivoirian people. We urge all parties to participate responsibly, engage fully in the process and avoid the use of inflammatory language. We continue to follow developments closely and hope to see extensive domestic and international observation encouraging transparency and due process before and during the elections in 2020.

Sahel: Politics and Government

lord sheikh: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent reports they have received about unrest in the Sahel.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The UK is deeply concerned at the scale of terrorist and inter-community violence in the Sahel. In recent weeks, we have seen a number of horrific attacks with tragic consequences for people in the region. The UK condemns these attacks, including, most recently, those conducted against the Malian and French armed forces on 1-2 November, and offers its deepest condolences to those affected.As part of the UK's new strategic approach to Africa we are increasing our support to the Sahel, bringing together our development, diplomacy and defence expertise to help address instability and poverty in the region. Our increased engagement includes the deployment of 250 personnel to the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali next year and the expansion of our work to address the long-term drivers of conflict.

Sahel: Counter-terrorism

lord sheikh: To ask Her Majesty's Government what contributions they are making to the proposed Multi-NationalJoint TaskForce and the G5 Sahel Joint Force in the Sahel.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Since 2016, the UK has contributed £5 million to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), on top of our assessed contributions through the EU’s Africa Peace Facility. We also support through the deployment of UK personnel, who provide technical and strategic support, to the MNJTF headquarters in N’Djamena. The UK has supported the G5 Sahel Joint Force (G5SJF) bilaterally and through the EU. We contributed £2 million of bilateral support in 2018/19 and are continuing to support this year. We are also providing technical support to cooperation between the G5SJF and the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, MINUSMA.

Department of Health and Social Care

Dental Health: Children

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend the supervised tooth brushing programme, as recommended by the Royal College of Surgeon's Faculty of Dental Surgery in its report The state of children's oral health in England, published in August.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: Evidence shows that targeted supervised toothbrushing schemes are effective at preventing tooth decay and produce the biggest impact in reducing inequalities in oral health.The Government’s Green Paper Advancing our health: prevention in the 2020s, published in July, commits to consulting next year on options for rolling out a national school toothbrushing scheme in more pre-school settings and primary schools in England. These proposals will aim to reach the most deprived 3-5 year olds in all areas of the country, and will look to reach 30% by 2022.

Dental Services

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have tointroduce a new NHS dental contract focused on prevention, as recommended by the Royal College of Surgeon's Faculty of Dental Surgery's report The state of children's oral health in England, published in August.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: The Government is committed to reforming the current National Health Service dental contract to focus on preventing, as well as treating, dental disease.We are currently testing this new approach in 101 dental practices, known as dental prototype practices, across the country. No decisions have yet been made on wider national roll out.

Life Expectancy

baroness finlay of llandaff: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent assessmentthey have made of the reasons for the disparities in life expectancy between women and men.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: Life expectancy in England is the highest it has ever been for both males and females. Women continue to live longer than men, as they do around the world, but the gap is reducing.The difference in life expectancy at birth in England between males and females has decreased in every time period between 2001-03 and 2015-17. Over the past decade, the gap between male and female life expectancy at birth has narrowed from 4.1 years in 2006-08 to 3.6 years in 2016-18. Men experience higher mortality rates for some leading causes of death, including circulatory disease and cancer, which contribute to this difference in life expectancy.

NHS: Negligence

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the financial implications for the NHS of the level of damages payments issued to resolve clinical negligence claims before legal proceedings.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: The rising costs of clinical negligence are a concern and something we are committed to tackling, given that National Health Service funds spent on clinical negligence are resources not available for front line care. In 2018/19 total clinical negligence provision was £83 billion (Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts provision was £77.6 billion).NHS Resolution has a responsibility to settle justified claims fairly and promptly and defend unjustified claims to secure NHS resources. Each case must be considered on its own merits and it is important that a proper investigation is undertaken. NHS Resolution aims to get to the right answer as quickly as possible in every case and to help resolve claims sooner, and without the need for court proceedings. To support this NHS Resolution launched a new mediation service in December 2016.

Liothyronine: West Midlands

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action can be taken by thyroid patents who in raising concerns about the Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group's (CCG) refusal to allow the prescription of liothyronine, were told by that CCG to raise the issue with NHS England only to be told by NHS England to raise the matter with that CCG.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: Clinical commissioning groups (CCG) are the responsible commissioner for this prescription of liothyronine. NHS England and NHS Improvement has set out its position and it is for CCGs to have regard to that guidance. If a CCG has a commissioning policy that differs from the guidance, then it is for the CCG to explain to patients why this is the case and the basis on which their decision was made. Therefore, patients should raise their concerns with the CCG. NHS England and NHS Improvement’s guidance does not remove the discretion of individual prescribers who remain responsible for clinical decisions relating to their patient’s care.

Liothyronine

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what actionthey are taking to ensure that the updated prescribing guidance for liothyronine issued by the South Regional Medicines Optimisation Committee in July is followed by allClinical Commissioning Groups.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: It is not the responsibility of the Department to direct clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) on which medicines they can or cannot prescribe. These decisions need to be taken by each individual CCG. However, we would expect CCGs to have regard to the South Regional Medicines Optimisation Committee prescribing guidance.

Liothyronine

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what actionthey propose to take in relation to thyroid patients who, having previously had successful treatment on dosages of 20mcg and above of liothyronine, are now facing a restriction on the dosage.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: Whilst NHS England and NHS Improvement will regularly review its guidance, at present, there are no plans to revisit the specific recommendations for liothyronine unless new clinical evidence comes to light. Decisions on appropriate treatment for thyroid patients and doses are taken in accordance with a clinical management plan and implemented by the clinician.

Liothyronine: Merseyside

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what further proof of eligibility for treatment with liothyronine is required for those patients, in Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) who are members of the Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee, for whom an endocrinologist has confirmed levothyroxine treatment has not been suitable and has recommended they are prescribed liothyronine, and where the CCG is requiring an Individual Funding Request process be undergone before treatment can be permitted.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: In the absence of positive National Institute for Health and Care Excellence technology appraisal guidance, any funding decisions should be made by National Health Service commissioners (including NHS England and NHS Improvement in respect of specialised services), based on an assessment of the available evidence and on the basis of an individual patient’s clinical circumstances. The NHS Constitution states that patients have the right to expect local decisions on the funding of drugs and treatments “to be made rationally following a proper consideration of the evidence”. If an NHS commissioner decides not to fund a drug, then it should explain that decision.

Liothyronine: West Midlands

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of whether the Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group is following the updated prescribing guidance for liothyronine issued by the South Regional Medicines Optimisation Committee in July; and what action they are taking to ensure the guidance is being followed.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: The Department has not made an assessment and does not have the responsibility to direct clinical commissioning groups on which medicines they can or cannot prescribe.

Liothyronine

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what price to the NHS liothyronine would need to fall below in order for the restriction on its prescription to be lifted.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: The Department would not intervene in determining what price to the National Health Service liothyronine would need to fall below in order for the restriction on its prescription to be lifted.Liothyronine is only appropriate for a certain group of patients and the South Regional Medicines Optimisation Committee advice sought to provide further clinical guidance on this matter. Whilst NHS England and NHS Improvement will regularly review its guidance, at present, there are no plans to revisit the specific recommendations for liothyronine unless new clinical evidence comes to light.

Lung Diseases: Medical Equipment

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to cease the prescription of dry powder inhalersin England apart from in exceptional circumstances; and if so, when.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: It is the intention of the National Health Service, as set out in its Long Term Plan commitment, to reduce the use of traditional inhalers with higher levels of fluorinated gases. There are devices available which use significantly less fluorinated gases and dry powder devices, which do not use fluorinated gases, unlike traditional metered dose devices.This year, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence has published a Patient Decision Aid to help people with asthma, alongside health professionals, to identify which inhalers could meet their needs and control their symptoms. Where several inhalers could be viable options, the decision aid helps clinicians and patients choose the more environmentally friendly option, with a lower carbon footprint. The British Thoracic Society have included device carbon impacts in their recently published asthma guidelines.

Department for Education

Alternative Education

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what safeguards are in place to ensure that children in care who are in Alternative Provision are always educated by registered providers.

lord agnew of oulton: Any independent alternative provision (AP) setting that provides full-time education to one or more children who is looked-after or who has an Education, Health and Care Plan must be registered as a school. It is a criminal offence to operate an unregistered school. We have successfully prosecuted those operating unregistered independent schools and would prosecute any AP setting that was operating as an unregistered independent school. Some children in care may access provision that is not legally required to register as a school if it is on a part-time basis as part of a wider package of education and support. In all cases, the duty on local authorities under the Children Act (1989) to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in need in their areas applies regardless of where a child is educated. For children in care, their social worker should seek a school or other education setting that is best suited to the child’s needs, which may include a part-time, unregistered AP setting. In all cases, the local authority or school that commissions the place in AP should assure themselves that the setting is registered where applicable and the provision is delivered by high quality staff with suitable training, experience and safeguarding checks. The department is currently looking closely at what we need to do to ensure AP provides high quality education and the right support to these children that will enable them to succeed. The department wants to be as ambitious for them as we are for all children and young people. As part of this the government has launched a £4 million AP Innovation Fund which is delivering nine projects focused on testing ways to improve outcomes for children in AP. In due course, we will set out plans to go further for improving outcomes for children in AP, including how we will support alternative providers to attract and develop high-quality staff.

Schools: Standards

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government how the Joint Understanding between the Department for Education and the Independent Schools Council is supporting the raising of educational standards in state schools.

lord agnew of oulton: The government’s joint understanding with the Independent Schools Council (ISC) encourages more independent schools to work in partnership with state-funded schools across the 4 key areas of: governance, teaching, curriculum and targeted school improvement. These 4 areas have been identified as key to raising standards across the education system. The department is supporting the growth of partnerships across these 4 areas through a dedicated unit.The 2019 ISC census shows that there are 1,142 ISC schools in the UK involved in partnerships with state schools - equating to 84% of ISC schools. Those schools reported 11,466 separate partnerships, compared with 10,553 before the joint understanding was agreed in 2018.The department welcomes a reported shift in the census towards higher impact activities, such as staff secondments, mixed lessons, and other academically-significant endeavours, as well as an increase in members of independent school staff serving as governors of state schools. These trends are to be welcomed for their ability to raise educational standards across the system.Consistent with the joint understanding, the department is now calling for bids for its cross-sector partnerships grant. The grant aims to raise the ambition for what schools can achieve together, and to remove a key financial barrier to new high-impact, sustainable, and mutually beneficial partnerships forming. It is designed to attract bids from both new partnerships that may benefit from seed funding, as well as existing partnerships looking to deepen and expand their collaborations.

School Libraries

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to make it mandatory for schools to have a library.

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the educational impact on children of not having access to a school library.

lord agnew of oulton: It is for individual schools to decide whether to provide and maintain a library service for their pupils. The vast majority of head teachers recognise the important role school libraries play in improving literacy and encouraging pupils to read for pleasure and ensure that suitable library facilities are provided. The national curriculum requires teachers in maintained schools to encourage pupils to develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information. It also emphasises the importance of listening to, discussing and – as their fluency increases – reading for themselves a wide range of stories, poems, plays and information books. Ofsted’s school inspection framework has a significant focus on reading as part of the quality of education judgement, with reading being prioritised to allow pupils to access the full curriculum offer. The last Progress in International Reading Literacy Study indicated in 2011 that 92% of pupils in Year 5 in England were attending a school where there was a library. This was above the international average of 86%. We do not collect data on school library provision or the impact it has on children’s educational attainment.

Social Services: Apprentices

baroness garden of frognal: To ask Her Majesty's Government why the maximum funding for a Level 3 Adult Care Worker apprenticeship is set at £3,000 when the maximum funding for Level 3 apprenticeships for veterinary nurses and project control technicians is set at £15,000 and £21,000 respectively.

lord agnew of oulton: Each apprenticeship standard is allocated a funding band based on recommendations by the independent Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (the Institute). The Institute uses a wide range of evidence to inform these funding band allocations, including information from trailblazer groups, training providers and assessment organisations, and consideration of comparable qualifications such as relevant standards.A longer duration often drives a higher funding band, due to the larger volume of material delivered in the standard. In this instance, the level 3 Adult Care Worker has a 12-month duration, compared to a 30- and 36-month duration for Veterinary Nurse and Project Controls Technician respectively.The Institute is improving the transparency and operation of the funding band recommendation process in 2019-20 and will test improvements with employers.

Department for Education: Third Sector

lord harris of haringey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of third sector organisationscurrently receiving funding from the Department for Education have had (1) firm, and (2) indicative, funding allocations for 2020–21.

lord agnew of oulton: Departmental budget allocations for 2020-21 were announced in September 2019. The Department for Education is currently undertaking a business planning and financial planning exercise to allocate resources across the department. Organisations receiving funding from the department will be notified of intended funding arrangements once this exercise has concluded.

Family Rights Group: Finance

lord harris of haringey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for the future funding of the Family Rights Group; whether they intend to announce those plans; and if so, when.

lord agnew of oulton: The department’s grant funding to the Family Rights Group for running the Family and Friends Helpline, which supports Kinship Carers, ends on 31 March 2020. The Treasury has now allocated budgets for 2020-21 only. The department will conduct any necessary procurement work for grants and contracts in due course.

Nurseries

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the freedom of information request which details how nursery rates are calculated will be published by the Department of Education.

lord agnew of oulton: We want every child to have the best start in life, which is why we are spending around £3.5 billion on early education entitlements this year and plan to spend over £3.6 billion on these offers next year.We are aware of the Information Commissioner Office’s decision and are considering our response.

The Senior Deputy Speaker

House of Lords: Social Media

baroness anelay of st johns: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what plans there are, if any, to add either 'International Relations' or 'Foreign Affairs' to the searchable list of topics on the Lords Digital Chamber, which currently includes: 'Business and Economy', 'Communities, Education and Families', 'Defence', 'Environment', 'Europe', 'Health', 'Home Affairs', 'Science and Technology', and 'Transport'.

lord mcfall of alcluith: The Lords Digital Chamber (lordsdigitalchamber.co.uk) brings together the social media activity of members of the House of Lords, political parties and groups in the Lords from Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and blogs. The topics pages currently use an algorithm to aggregate together commonly searched-for terms and phases associated with particular subject areas.The House of Lords Communications team keeps the topics section under continual review and will investigate the potential for including these subjects in the Lords Digital Chamber.

Department for International Trade

Kazakhstan: Foreign Relations

viscount waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the outcomes of the UK–Kazakhstan Inter-Governmental Commission meeting, held in London on 24 October.

the earl of courtown: My Rt Hon Friend, the Minister of State for International Trade, attended the UK-Kazakhstan Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC). The Kazakh delegation was led by the Deputy Foreign Minister for Europe, Mr Roman Vassilenko.The IGC promoted opportunities for British companies and business collaboration in the following sectors: technical and vocational education and training, healthcare, mining, oil and gas, and financial and professional services.TheCityUK used the IGC to take forward a British government-funded project to help develop the Astana International Financial Centre’s corporate governance code.UK Export Finance (UKEF) and the Kazakh authorities signed a Memorandum of Understanding, affirming UKEF appetite to support projects in Kazakhstan, with a view to increasing procurement from the UK.This was a successful event with a key strategic partner in Central Asia, which supported British exporters’ efforts in the Kazakh market, which was worth £2.3 billion to UK firms in 2018-19.

Overseas Trade: Côte d'Ivoire

lord sheikh: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the forecasts by multilateral financial institutions includingtheInternational Monetary Fund and the World Bank, what plans they have to strengthen economic ties with the Ivory Coast.

the earl of courtown: The Department for International Trade (DIT) works closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development (DFID) to advance our trade relationship with the Ivory Coast.DIT has recently increased promotion of the UK commercial offer and facilitated new business by supporting trade missions. DIT continues to develop a strong pipeline of projects in the market, eligible for UKEF financing, that UK companies are well positioned to invest in and is working to increase the visibility of the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC) that supports the building of businesses throughout Africa.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Temporary Accommodation: Families

the earl of listowel: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many families have been living in temporary accommodation in each of the last five years.

viscount younger of leckie: Time spent in temporary accommodation means people are getting help and it ensures no family is without a roof over their head.The government has undertaken a significant programme of work backed by over £1.2 billion, to tackle homelessness. This includes supporting local authorities in the implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act, increasing access to the private rented sector for families in temporary accommodation (TA) and supporting London boroughs to procure TA more efficiently.Last summer we published the cross-government Rough Sleeping Strategy. This sets out an ambitious £100 million package to help people who sleep rough now, but also puts in place the structures that will end rough sleeping once and for all.The following data refers to the number of households with children who were living in temporary accommodation on 31 March on each of the past 5 years.31 March 2015: 51,21031 March 2016: 56,43031 March 2017: 60,98031 March 2018: 61,61031 March 2019: 62,010

Temporary Accommodation: Children

the earl of listowel: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many children have been living in temporary accommodation in each of the last five years.

viscount younger of leckie: Time spent in temporary accommodation means people are getting help and it ensures no family is without a roof over their head.The government has undertaken a significant programme of work backed by over £1.2 billion, to tackle homelessness. This includes supporting local authorities in the implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act, increasing access to the private rented sector for families in temporary accommodation (TA) and supporting London boroughs to procure TA more efficiently.Last summer we published the cross-government Rough Sleeping Strategy. This sets out an ambitious £100 million package to help people who sleep rough now, but also puts in place the structures that will end rough sleeping once and for allThe number of children living in temporary accommodation is down from its peak in June 2006 at 130,470, with 126,020 in March 2019.The following data refers to the number of children who were living in temporary accommodation on 31 March on each of the past 5 years. 31 March 2015: 98,62031 March 2016: 111,06031 March 2017: 120,52031 March 2018: 123,52031 March 2019: 126,020

Temporary Accommodation: Families

the earl of listowel: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to whichfamilies living in temporary accommodation are experiencing isolation; and what steps they intend to take to mitigate such isolation.

viscount younger of leckie: The government has undertaken a significant programme of work backed by over £1.2 billion, to tackle homelessness. This includes supporting Local Authorities in the implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act, providing £19.5 million through PRS Access fund to increase access to the private rented sector for families in temporary accommodation (TA), committing £40 million to support London boroughs to procure TA more efficiently and providing the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant, a £617 million fund towards homelessness services.Last summer we published the cross-government Rough Sleeping Strategy. This sets out an ambitious £100 million package to help people who sleep rough now, but also puts in place the structures that will end rough sleeping once and for all.We are clear that local authorities should, as far as possible, avoid placing households out of their borough. However, in some areas where there is a limited supply of suitable accommodation, we are aware that, on occasion, it is necessary to place households in accommodation outside of the local area. This is set out in legislation and guidance which local authorities must have regard to.Homeless households have legal rights to request a review of a decision to place them in unsuitable accommodation.

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence: Advertising

lord moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much the Ministry of Defence spent on advertising in the last year; and what the principal categorieswere, broken down by (1) medium, and (2) purpose.

baroness goldie: The amount spent by the Department on advertising for financial year 2018-19 was £40.7 million. The majority of expenditure is accounted for by advertising by the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force to aid recruitment into our Armed Forces. The breakdown of medium is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

lord moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) Mastiff (all variants), (2) Ridgeback (all variants), (3) Wolfhound (all variants), (4) Husky (all variants), (5) Coyote (all variants), and (6) Warthog (all variants), vehicles they have purchased in total; and what was the total procurement cost of each vehicle type.

baroness goldie: The number of vehicles procured and the total procurement values are as follows:Fleet (all Variants)Total Number ProcuredTotal Procurement Value (£million ex VAT)Mastiff451329.1Ridgback177132.9Wolfhound126107.4Husky338190.3Coyote7627.2Warthog115129.0It should be noted that these figures include the procurement of the base vehicle, the integration work required to bring the vehicles up to a UK theatre entry standard and varying levels of initial spares purchases. Some contracts included the purchase of additional items, such as weapons and communication equipment. A number of the vehicle procurements were conducted via the Foreign Military Sales process, with costs calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate paid at the time.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

lord moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the status of each fleet of (1) Mastiff (all variants), (2) Ridgeback (all variants), (3) Wolfhound (all variants), (4) Husky (all variants), (5) Coyote (all variants), and (6) Warthog (all variants) vehicles, including the numbers (a) in forward fleet, (b) in reserve, (c) in storage, (d) that are ready for disposal, and (e) that have been sold or gifted.

baroness goldie: The status of each fleet of vehicles can be found in the table below: FleetIn Forward FleetIn ReserveIn StorageTotalMastiff17777163417Ridgback532194168Wolfhound571058125Husky2004080320Coyote577872Warthog  9191 *Warthog was taken out of service in 2015, they are showing as in storage as they are awaiting disposal action. One Warthog vehicle has been sold. None of the subject vehicles have been gifted.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

lord moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of each type of (1) Mastiff (all variants), (2) Ridgeback (all variants), (3) Wolfhound (all variants), (4) Husky (all variants), (5) Coyote (all variants), and (6) Warthog (all variants), vehicles they have sold; and what monies have been obtained by such sales.

baroness goldie: One Warthog vehicle has been sold. There have been no sales of Mastiff, Ridgback, Wolfhound, Husky or Coyote vehicles; I am withholding details of the sale price, as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.

Maritime Patrol Aircraft

lord moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government under what rules the Boeing P-8 Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft for the Ministry of Defence has been certified as airworthy; and where certified by a third party, whatplans they have to re-certify for airworthiness via the Military Airworthiness Authority.

baroness goldie: The P-8A Poseidon MRA Mk1 has been certified as airworthy in accordance with the Military Airworthiness Authority's (MAA) Military Air System Certification Process, as laid out in Regulatory Article (RA) 5810.The MAA issued a United Kingdom Restricted Military Type Certificate for the Poseidon MRA Mk1 on 19 September 2019.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

lord moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government how manyUK's F-35 aircraft they have ordered, broken downby (1) lot number, and (2) financial year, since the start of the programme.

baroness goldie: The UK has taken delivery of 18 F-35B aircraft from Lots 3-11, with a further 17 on order in Lots 12-14.  Lot 3Lot 4Lot 7Lot 8Lot 9Lot 10Lot 11Lot 12Lot 13Lot 14Delivery DateUp to 2016201720182019202020212022 Single Year ContractsBlock Buy 1Number of UK Aircraft in Lot2114631368

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

lord moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the figures for the delivery of F-35 aircraft to the Ministry of Defence in the National Audit Office's reportDeliveringCarrier Strike, published on 16 March 2017, remain the planned delivery rates; and if not, why those rates have changed.

baroness goldie: The planned F-35 delivery rates remain the same as those published in the NAO's report.

Department for Work and Pensions

Occupational Pensions

baroness altmann: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that the Pensions Regulator makes pension schemes regularly reconcile and report on the accuracy of auto-enrolment pensions data.

baroness stedman-scott: Automatic Enrolment into workplace pensions is working. It has transformed pension saving for millions of today’s workers. It has reversed the decline in workplace pension saving seen in the decade prior to its introduction. Since automatic enrolment started in 2012, workplace participation has increased among eligible employees from a low of 55 per cent in 2012 to 87 per cent in 2018. The Government has put in place a robust, proportionate compliance framework. This is administered by The Pensions Regulator, and includes detailed regulatory guidance about how to comply with the law. An employer is required to select a qualifying pension scheme; enrol qualifying staff into that scheme, and deduct any contributions payable under Automatic Enrolment. The Pensions Regulator’s priorities are contained in their corporate plan 2019-22 and include; providing clarity, enforcing the high standards of trusteeship, governance and administration they expect. Qualifying pension schemes for Automatic Enrolment are subject to the regulatory framework overseen by The Pensions Regulator in respect of payment and accuracy of contributions. The Regulator has published codes of practice on its website setting out how trustees of defined contribution pension schemes and managers of personal pension schemes should monitor the payment of contributions; provide information to help members check their contributions; and report material payment failures to the Regulator. The regulatory regime is designed so that errors can be identified and material failures can be reported, the Regulator can then require restitution; and, where necessary, make use of its enforcement powers. The Government keeps all aspects of automatic enrolment under regular review but has no plans to make changes to the compliance framework at this time.

Home Office

Asylum: Greek Islands

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are takingto support the resettlement of vulnerable children and unaccompanied minors from the Greek Islands.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government provides a number of schemes that offer a safe and legal route to the UK for the most vulnerable refugees. In total, the UK provided protection to over 7,000 children in the year ending June 2019, and 39,500 since the start of 2010, and in every year since 2016, the UK resettled more refugees from outside Europe than any other EU member state. In the year ending June 2019 the UK received 3,496 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. In 2018, the UK received 15% of all asylum claims from unaccompanied children in the EU, representing the third highest intake country.We remain absolutely committed to transferring the specified number of 480 unaccompanied children under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Dubs Amendment) as soon as possible. We have been making further progress with participating States, including Greece, to transfer more eligible children to move closer to the commitment to transfer 480 children.Until the UK leaves the EU, we remain fully committed to the timely and efficient operation of the Dublin III Regulation including the provisions determining responsibility for examining the claims of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. Officials continue to work closely with Member States, including partners in Greece, to ensure the safe transfer of children under this Regulation.Under Section 17 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act, we are committed to seek to negotiate an agreement with the EU allowing for the family re-union of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, where it is in their best interests, once we leave the EU. We are ready to engage with the EU and with Member States on this matter and will endeavour to negotiate such an agreement as soon as possible.

Scientists: Migrant Workers

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Queen's Speech on 14 October, how they intend to expand the pool of UK research institutes and universities able to endorse scientists and researchers to carry out work in this country.

baroness williams of trafford: On 8 August the Prime Minister announced that we would be reforming our Tier 1 Exceptional Talent route – an immigration route for very high skilled individuals who are endorsed by a recognised UK body – to provide for a fast track immigration scheme to attract top scientists and those with specialist skills in Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics subjects to the UK.The Government is clear that the scientific community should be at the heart of the proposals. We are working with the existing endorsing bodies as well as the wider scientific community on changes to this route. Further details will follow in due course.

Immigrants: Detainees

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of those who have been held in immigration detention centres for more than 28 days in each of the last four years were granted (1) refugee status, and (2) the right to remain, in the UK.

baroness williams of trafford: Information on the length of detention, and reason for release from detention, is available in tables dt_06_q and dt_14,q of the detention tables in the latest release of ‘Immigration Statistics, year ending June 2019’. The published statistics show the number of people who were granted leave to remain (LTR) in the UK on leaving detention. However, this is not broken down by type of leave, nor will it include those who are released from detention for other reasons and subsequently granted LTR.



Detention Tables - Immigration Stats - June 2019
(Excel SpreadSheet, 5.3 MB)

Cabinet Office

Elections: Visual Impairment

lord crisp: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of theaccessibility of elections for blind and partially sighted people; and what stepsthey intend to take to ensure that the new photographic ID requirement does not decrease that accessibility.

the earl of courtown: In 2018 the Government issued a Call for Evidence on Access to Elections. It received over 250 responses and in a subsequent response paper set out some of the things it was going to look at, including elements that address accessibility issues for people with sight loss.With regard to piloting voter identification in polling stations, the Government has worked with the Access to Elections Working Group, which includes people from RNIB, Mencap and other organisations representing disabled people, to consider how accessibility can be maintained. The Government has also worked with a wide range of other stakeholders. We will continue consultation with all of these organisations, keeping Public Sector Equality Duty compliance at the core of our planning for the roll out of voter ID in Great Britain.We are also starting to bring forward measures which respond to issues raised in the Government’s response to the 2018 Call for Evidence on Access to Elections, with the proposals announced as part of the package around the Queen’s Speech. These will include increasing the range of support available to voters with disabilities in polling stations and allowing a wider range of people (such as carers) to assist disabled voters in polling stations if needed.

Ministers: Harassment

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to protect ministers from abuse and intimidation when leaving the Parliamentary Estate.

earl howe: The Government deplores the inexcusable intimidation and abuse of ministers and MPs in public life; nobody should have to suffer abuse and intimidation simply for doing their job.It is a wide-ranging and complex issue to tackle - it cannot be achieved through one action alone and the Government is working with the police, political parties, Parliament’s security teams, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), the electoral community, civil society groups and other organisations.

Public Sector: Contracts

lord touhig: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the finding by the Reform think tank that £14.3 billion of public money has been wasted by public sector outsourcing contracts.

the earl of courtown: The Government recognises that outsourcing is an important component in a “mixed economy” of government service provision which includes in-house and the voluntary sector. Government needs the dynamism and innovation that only a healthy, diverse marketplace of suppliers can provide and economies of scale mean services can be provided more efficiently and maximise value for the public.The Government is committed to improving how we work with the private sector to deliver quality public services and value for money. In February 2019, the Government launched the Outsourcing Playbook which sets out eleven new policies to ensure contracts are set up for success and services are protected in the event of a corporate failure.

Public Sector: Business Interests

viscount waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether decision-making civil servants and local authority officials are currently required to disclose all interests to prevent any conflict of interest; and ifso, whether those records are made public.

the earl of courtown: Civil Servants serve the government of the day and can only exercise power for and on behalf of the Secretary of State.The Civil Service Management Code sets out regulations and instructions related to civil servants’ terms and conditions of service, including the declaration and management of private interests. HR in each Department will provide advice about the appropriate procedures to follow.Local authorities are responsible for the management of their own officials. Local government officers must act in conformity with the Nolan Principles.

Treasury

Shares: Sales

lord vinson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the prevalence of tracker and similar funds lending the shares of beneficial owners for shorting; what regulations are in place to ensure that such funds make share owners sufficiently aware that shares may be lent in this way; whether such funds must seek the permission of beneficial owners before lending their shares for such purposes; and if not, why not.

lord vinson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of beneficial owners with shares invested in tracker and similar funds that are not fully cognisant that their shares are being lent for shorting; and what steps they intend to take in response to any such estimate.

the earl of courtown: The FCA seeks to ensure that regulated firms provide adequate levels of disclosure to investors that invest in financial products, as well as the orderly functioning of these types of investment products. As part of this, the FCA sets requirements for managers of authorised funds carrying out stock lending, including obligations that they make clear in the fund’s prospectus (the document provided to those considering investing in a fund) if the stocks in the fund they invest in may be lent on to others. However, the FCA does not require fund managers to then seek the permission of fund investors before lending their stock in each individual case. Under FCA rules, managers of authorised funds can only lend the stocks in these funds for the account of and for the benefit of the fund and in the interests of unitholders. The manager must be satisfied that any stock lending is appropriate for generating additional income for the fund at an acceptable degree of risk. More broadly, the FCA is responsible for enforcing the Short Selling Regulation (SSR), which regulates short selling practices while safeguarding companies and the financial system. It imposes a disclosure regime on those who have reportable net short positions to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and to the public and provides the FCA with powers to suspend short selling or limit transactions when there are significant reductions in the price of certain instruments from the previous day’s closing price. Additionally, the Treasury and FCA both have powers under the Regulation to address adverse events that pose a serious threat to market confidence or financial stability.

Financial Services: Regulation

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will (1) establish an independent review into the Financial Conduct Authority's supervision of Woodford Investment Management and Link Financial Solutions, and (2) review the protections in place for investors in open-ended funds in circumstances similar to those managed by Woodford.

the earl of courtown: The government takes the suspension and winding up of the Woodford Equity Income Fund (WEIF) very seriously and is monitoring the response. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is continuing its investigation into the activities that led to the suspension of the WEIF. At this stage, the government has not seen evidence that would justify establishing an independent review into the FCA’s supervision of the fund. As part of its investigation, the FCA is considering what FCA rule changes may be necessary to protect investors and to prevent similar issues in future. The FCA is also working with the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee to assess how funds’ redemption terms might be better aligned with the liquidity of their assets. Once the FCA publishes its findings, we will be able to assess whether there is any further role for the government.

Occupational Pensions: Tax Allowances

baroness altmann: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) employers, and (2) pension scheme members, have received too much tax relief due to incorrect pension contributions being made as a result of confusion between (a) Relief at Source, and (b) Net Pay, arrangements.

the earl of courtown: Employers have not been given too much or too little tax relief as employers do not receive tax relief under net pay or relief at source (RAS) arrangements. The information about members is not readily available in the form requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Errors made by employers and pension providers have resulted in pension scheme members receiving either no tax relief on their pension contributions, or receiving tax relief twice. In the Pension schemes newsletter 105 (November 2018), HMRC invited pension schemes who think that any of their members have been given the wrong amount of tax relief to email HMRC. HMRC would then work with the scheme to help correct their tax position. HMRC is continuing to work with the pension schemes that have informed if an error has been made, but is unable to give more detail of these cases as this could prejudice future HMRC compliance activity.

Financial Services: Regulation

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have toreview the impact of regulation on the competitiveness of financial services in the UK.

the earl of courtown: The Government keeps the regulatory framework for financial services under review, and is committed to ensuring the competitiveness of the sector. It has also given the independent financial services regulators a statutory mandate to have regard to aspects of the Government’s economic policy (including competitiveness), which is communicated through letters of recommendations.

Economic Situation: Forecasts

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whenthey intend to publish their next economic forecasts in accordance with the Industry Act 1975.

the earl of courtown: The schedule pertaining to economic forecasting in the Industry Act 1975 has been repealed in consequence of the provisions in the Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act 2011. The Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act 2011 established the creation of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility. This legislation outlines that it is the duty of the Office to produce, on at least two occasions for each financial year, a fiscal and economic forecast. As a result, the government’s medium-term economic and fiscal forecasting is undertaken by the Office for Budget Responsibility in line with its statutory duty. The Office for Budget Responsibility will produce a new economic and fiscal forecast to accompany the next fiscal event.

Soft Drinks: Taxation

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatplans they have to maintain the Soft Drinks Industry Levy.

the earl of courtown: The Government has no plans to end the Soft Drinks Industry Levy. However, HM Treasury keeps all taxes under review.

Sugar: Taxation

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to extending the Soft Drinks Industry Levy to other products which fail to meet Public Health England’s voluntary sugar reformulation targets.

the earl of courtown: As set out in Phase 2 of the Childhood Obesity Strategy, HM Treasury is due to review the Soft Drinks Industry Levy exemption for milk-based drinks in 2020. The Government has no other plans to extend the scope of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

5G

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of 5G airwaves on (1)satellite communication,and (2)the European Space Agency's Copernicus Project.

baroness barran: The Government is committed to create a policy and regulatory environment which will ensure the most efficient use of radio spectrum (or airwaves), including setting the right conditions for the development and deployment of 5G networks while protecting important satellite services and applications. Government departments and agencies have been actively involved in the work of international telecoms groups, ITU (International Telecommunications Union) and CEPT (European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations), to study the necessary technical conditions for 5G, to ensure that they meet internationally agreed protection criteria for satellite communication and scientific satellites, including Copernicus. These technical conditions must balance the needs of the 5G industry and the science community. Such conditions have already been agreed within Europe. The UK has proposed, via European coordination (i.e. the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations, a pan-European body including 48 countries), that these technical conditions should be adopted at global level at WRC-19 (World Radiocommunication Conference), which meets until 22nd November.